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H. J. ENNIS.

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

Patented Oct; 18, 1887.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-S.heet 2.

H'. J.. ENNIS AUTOMATIG VENDING MACHINE. No. 371,829. Patented Oct. 18,1887.

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4 Sheets-Sheet; 3.

H. ENNIS AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. J. ENNIS. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.

No. 371,829. Patented 001;. 18, 1887.

WITNESSES $62112 0761; ywelz nnnnr J. ENNIS, on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT orCOLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC VENDING 'MACHINE.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,82Q, dated October181, 1887.

Application filed September 16, 1887. Serial No. 249,575. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HENRY J. ENNIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the-District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticVending-Machines; and Ido declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines which is used for sellingmerchandisesuch, for example, as cigarettes or other goods-which may befed successively to a drawer, from which they may be taken by thepurchaser on the deposit of a coin the equiv alent in value of thegoods, and in which the machine is normally in such a condition that thegoods cannot be removed except by the introduction of said coin, which,by reason of its weight and size, operates the mechanism in the machineto unlock a box or drawer, from which a package of the merchandise maybe removed.

The novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which. illusirate my invention, Figure 1is a front view, in perspective, of my machine. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation, the back of the machine being removed to show the operationof the parts. Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the machine on a planepassing in front of the coin duct or channel. Fig. 4. is a horizontalsection of the machine on a plane passing over the planedrawers. Fig. 5is a detail view showing the device for preventing the introduction of awire. Fig. 6 is a side View of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail view of partof the mechanism for looking out coins when the supply of the machine isexhausted. Fig. 8 is a detail showing a portion of the coin-guideway anda receptacle for coins of a smaller size than required to unlock themachine. Fig. 9 is a detail of a' locking-arm for the sale-drawer. Fig.10 is a detail showing, in section, one of the saledrawers and itsguide.

Fig. 11 is a view of one of the cutting knivcs for severing a cord on anattempt to withdraw a coin. Fig. 12 is a view, in perspective, of thedevice used to prevent the introduction of the wire. Fig. 13 is a detailview of the lockingout mechanism for coins cooperating with the deviceshown in Fig. 7.

A suitable frame-work, 1, consisting of a box or housing for theoperating mechanism, is provided with a door, 6, by which access may behad to the interior, and with a back, 14, secured by screws. Thecash-drawer 7, Fig. 3, is not accessible except when the door 6 is open,and is also provided with a lock, the key being carried by an authorizedperson. Glass panels 2 2 are set in the front of the frame, on which isinscribed instructions for using the machine. (See Fig. 1.)

The apparatus represented in the drawings is a double one, each siderepresenting a distinct selling apparatus in which the same or distinctkinds or qualities of merchandise may be paid.

3 3 represent saledrawers. They are provided with suitable knobs, asshown, and have an open space, 18, of the same size as the crosssectionof the reservoir 16 for the merchandise, which is arranged in a verticalcolumn in each reservoir 16. The depth of the drawer .3 is a littlegreater than the thickness of the article of merchandise or the box orpackage containing thesame. It will be evident therefore that when thedrawer is pulled out the lowermost package comes with it, the remain.-ing packages of the column staying in place, and that when the drawer ispulled sufficiently far the package will drop through the open space 18in the drawer and come to rest on the shelf 4. A block, 20, forming therear portion of the drawer, prevents the remaining packages fromdescending until the drawer is restored to its original closed position.It will be understood therefore that by successively opening and closingthe drawer the merchandise or packages of merchandise may be withdrawnfrom the reservoir 16, one at a time, until the supply is exhausted.

As shown in Fig. 4, there are two reservoirs, 16 16, formed in theinterior front portion of the casing by suitable partitions, 21 22 22.Behind the partitions 22 22 are fixed upon suitable supports securedthereto and to the fixed part of the casing the gui'dcways 8 9 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) for the coins. There are two guideways, 9 9, one for eachside of the machine, leading by the channels 8 8 to the exterioropenings, 5 5, for the introduction of the coin. At the bend of thechannels 8 8, as at 23 23, a slot, 10, is cut in the bottom of theguideway just wide and long enough to retain a coin of the denominationfixed upon as the price of the merchandise, and directly below thisslot, in the same vertical line, is placed a trough, 11, one on eachside of the machine, so that if anything smaller than the coin of therequired denomination is introduced into the exterior opening, 5, itwill not follow the guideway, but will fall through the slot 10 into thetrough 11. This slot is clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The guideway for the coin is formed of two grooved rails supported at aproper distance apart. At suitable points along each guide-v vWay 9 9are placed a safety device, 12, and a cutting device, 13. Those numbered12 in the drawings are shaped substantially as those shown in Fig. 12,and are hung from a nearly central'eye, 24, upon a pin secured to theside of the guideway, the i'ulcral point being so.

placed that the lower or deflecting wing, 25, will normally hang in thepath of the coin.- The guideway is cut out, as shown in- Fig. 5, so asto permit the deflecting-wing 25 and check-wing 26 to swing into thecoinspath. The device is made of such a size that the distance betweenthe extreme points of its wings 25 26 is a trifle greater than thediameter of the coin. It will be seen therefore that a coin in slidingunder the action of gravity along the guideway will clear wing 26 andwill force 25 out of its pat-h, receiving only a slight check to itsmomentum, but that if a wire or rod be thrust into the guideway thelower wing, 25, will be. forced outward, the sharp end of 26 beingthrust into'the path, firmly locking the wire againstfurther advance andtending to cut or break it.

It has been a comparatively easy matter to pick the selling devicesheretofore presented to the public, and as they are placed in exposedpositions, where the attention of a salesman will not be given, theymust, in order to prove at all efficient, be absolutely proof againstinterference from malicious or unscrupulous persons. The introduction ofa wire or a coin-bored and secured to a cord have been favored methodsof cheating the machine. It will be seen that the check just describedwill guard against the use of the wire. That shown in Fig. 11 adds anadditional guard deflects the knife. If a wire or a cord were attachedto the coin, however, once the coin had passed this check, it could notpossibly be withdrawn, as the knife would bite into the coin against theplate 10 and out said cord. It is believed these provisions will proveample .against tampering with the device from the coin-openings, exceptthe method of gorging coins on the unlocking mechanism, which willpresently be adverted to.

In order to make a machine of this charac ter safe, it is necessary thatthe supply-drawer shall not only normally be locked so that it cannot beopened except by the introduction of coin, but also that when once openit cannot be shifted back and forward to extract more than a singlepackage of merchandise. In order to provide for these requirements Ihave devised mechanism located at-the lower portion of the path oftravel of the coin, which will be now described.

A latch-tripping dog, 34, is hung from an eye at the side of eachguideway, and is so shaped that an arm, 35, will be normally held bygravity in the path of travel of the coin. This dog carries a rod, 36,(shown on a large scale in Fig. 9,) which projects through one of aseries of holes drilled in ahinged horizontal latch,33. This latch ishinged M37 in asuitable support, 32, so that in its normal position ithangs as shown in Fig. 3. A lug, 61, Fig. 9, bearing against the support32, prevents the latch 33 from falling too far. Several holes aredrilled in this arm, and the rod 36 maybe shaped so as to enter anydesired hole. The lower side of this latch is provided with a series ofteeth, 38 39, and at its extremity with a rectangular recess, 40. To theblock 20, forming the rear portion of the supply" bar beyond the latch.The weight of the coin therefore will hold the latch raised against theoverhanging portion of the lock-bar and the teeth on the under side ofthelatch will be lifted out of engagement with the under side of thelock-bar until the drawer is clear of the detaining influence of thelatch. It will be noted that any strain on the latch by a personendeavoring to force open the sale-drawer will be in the direction ofits greatest strain,as the strain is a tensile one, and this I regard asan important feature, as the part can be made light and yet of greatstrength. On the overhanging part of the lockbar 41 is pivoted a detentor lug, 42, shaped about as shown in Fig. 2. The face of this lug, whichnormally rests on the latch, is inclined, as is shown, so that it willpermit the latch to be raised by the weight of the .coin until saidlatch strikes the overhanging part of the lock-bar. (See Figs. 2 and 3.)A check-pin, 55, limits the fall of the lug when it is drawn out clearof the latch, when its lower part drops a sufficient distance to preventa closure of the (1Xl."6l,l1ll6 lower part of the lug engaging thevertical wall of the recess 40. This forms another cheek to a method ofcheating the boxes now in use. For example, let us suppose that a coinof the required denomination were secured to a cord and permitted tofall into the box. It will be remembered that the check heretoforementioned will permit the string to pass through to the latch-trippingdog 34, but that the coin cannot be withdrawn owing to the cuttingaction of the knives 13;

but once the coin has fallen upon the dog 34 itraises the rod 36 and unlatches the engaging tooth of latch 33 from the lockbar 31, so that thedrawer can be pulled open. The coin does not fall through till thelock-bar 41 is drawn forward far enough to clear the locking-arm.Ordinarily at this point the coin drops into the CZLShbOX 7; but byholding the cord the latch may be held up so that the drawer might bepushed backward and forward as often as desired and the whole contentsof the reservoir 16 removed by the expenditure of a single coin. The lugor detent 42 is designed to prevent this. hen the latch is raised andthe sale-drawer is drawn forward, as soon as the lockbar 41 reaches theend of the latch the lug 42 drops and the drawer cannot be closed orpartially closed until the coin passes the dog 34, because the lowerpart of the fallen lug 42 now strikes against the wall of the recess 40.The manipulator cannot therefore withdraw his coin or abstract more thana single piece of the inerchandise. He is forced therefore either toleave the cord or pull it out, the knife described cutting it if headopts the latter course. The coin will then drop into the cashdrawer,the dog 34 will resumeits normal position, and the free end of thelocking-arm 33 will drop sufficiently to clear the lug42. The drawer canthen be closed, the teeth of arm 33 slipping over the lower projectionof the lock-bar, and when the drawer is so closed the apparatus islocked and ready to serve a fresh customer.

56, Fig. 2, shows a coin-protecting device. In structure it is similarto those shown at 12. It is placed, however, in such a position that,its lower wing will be held out by the coin successive opening andclosing of the saledrawer repeatedly would exhaust the entire contentsofreservoir 16. Inasmuch, however,

Fe come now to the final feature of the apparatus. In order to dealhonorably with its customers, it is necessary that this automatic salsman should announce when its supply of merchandise is exhausted, sothat a wonldbe purchaser may not have his confidence destroyed bydepositing a coin and on pulling open the drawer finding that he has noequivalent for his money and pains. I accomplish this desideratum by thefollowing means: On a fixed part of the casing (see Fig. 3)is pivoted abar, 57, provided with two arms, 43 43, extending across the bottom ofthe reservoir 16. Each reservoir is provided with a similar rod. Anotherarm, 44, extends rearwardly and is linked to a connecting-wire, 45,Figs. 2 and 3, which is linked at the top to one arm of a bellcranklever, 46, Figs. 12 and 13, the other arm of which is pivoted to a bentrod, 47, rigidly secured to a rod, 48. As long as a single package ofmerchandise remains in the magazine or reservoir. the arms 43 43 areheld down and the rod 48 is held clear of the exterior open ing, 5; butwhen the supply is exhausted the weight of the parts or a retractalspring, which is the equivalent, raises the arms 43, operates thebell-crank lever, and thrusts the rod 48 transversely across thecxterioropening. This effectually looks out coins, as the rod is locatedjust under the roof of the casing nearthe coinopening.

In the lower part of the casing is a sliding drawer, 7, provided at itsend with a lock and ICO key, so that a person carrying a key can removethe receipts of the machine.

The forward part of block 20, forming the rear portion of thesupply-drawer, is recessed on the bottom, as shown in Fig. 3, so thatwhen the drawer is pulled out the rods 43 can rise, throwing the rod 48across the eoin-opening and looking out all coins as long as thesupply-drawer remains open. It is evident, therefore, that if byaccident the drawer should be left open a second purchaser cannotintroduce his coin until he has first closed the drawer, when thepackages of merchandise will fall upon the rods 43 and free the coinopenin At the outer side of each magazine or reservoir 16, and at itslower part, I place a guide,

IIO

ing the merchandise, a piece at a time, a recessed lock-bar carriedv bysaid slide, a pivoted latch provided with teeth on its lowerface,supported in said recess, said lock-bar being also provided with apivoted lug adapted to fall in the path of the latch when the latter isout of its normal position.

3. The combination of the coin-guideway,

, a latch-tripping dog, 84, supported thereon, a

latch, 33, adapted to be lifted by said dog when a coin of the requiredweight rests on said dog, a lock-bar cooperating with said latch, and aslide to which the lockbar is attached, as set forth.

4. The combination of the recessed lock-bar 41, the slide to which it isattached, a fixed support for the lock-bar, said latch being providedwith teeth on its under face and a recess at its free end, and a pivotedlug, 42, on the lock-bar adapted to cooperate with the latch to preventthe closure of the slide when the latch is out of its normal position.

5. A bending apparatus comprising aguideway for the coin bent out of avertical position for a portion of its length and provided in the bendwith a trap-slot for smaller coins,

reservoir 16, slide 3, loek-bar 41, provided with lug 42, latch 33, andlatch-tripping dog 34, as set forth.

6. The combination of a slide for withdrawing the merchandise,aloclz-barcarried by said slide, a pivoted lug on said bar, a latch parallel tothe line of movement of the slide, and a fixed support to which saidlocking-arm is secured, whereby said slide holds the lockingarm in theline of its greatest strain.

7. The combination ofa slide for withdrawing the merchandise, alock-bar, 41, rigidly secured to the slide, a latch parallel to the lineof movement of the slide, a fixed support to which the latch is secured,whereby the slide holds the latch in the line of its greatest strain,and a tripping-dog for releasing said latch, said dog being providedwith a projection extending into the path of the coin, whereby, when acoin of the required denomination rests on the projection, thelocking-arm will line of movement of the slide, said latch passingthrough said recess, a latch-tripping dog projecting into the path ofthe coin, the lockbar, the latch, and dog cooperating so as to hold thelocking mechanism open until the lock-baris beyond the looking-arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two-witnesses.

HENRY J. ENNIS.

Witnesses: 1

WARREN O. STONE, J. MONAMEE.

